title: Broadband tuning of optomechanical cavities.
abstract: We demonstrate broadband tuning of an optomechanical microcavity optical resonance by exploring the large optomechanical coupling of a double-wheel microcavity and its uniquely low mechanical stiffness. Using a pump laser with only 13 mW at telecom wavelengths we show tuning of the silicon nitride microcavity resonances over 32 nm. This corresponds to a tuning power efficiency of only 400 mW/nm. By choosing a relatively low optical Q resonance (≈ 18,000) we prevent the cavity from reaching the regime of regenerative optomechanical oscillations. The static mechanical displacement induced by optical gradient forces is estimated to be as large as 60 nm.
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Gustavo S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wiederhecker
authors.forename: Sasikanth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manipatruni
authors.forename: Sunwoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lipson
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000295:instrumentation*